Please do so.
To me, it's a "which came first, chicken or egg" thing....the apostles' proclamation or the church.
Then please answer the question I asked, which Church?
Me -- I think people responded to the proclamation. (How can they hear without a preacher?)
Yes they did respond. So where did they hear the word proclaimed and what were they required to do when they believed?
And then it's a matter of who should be in charge: the apostles' proclamation or the people who interpret the apostles' proclamation. I choose the scripture.
You’re getting closer here xzins. The proper interpretation of the scripture would be the Truth. So where does the Bible say the Truth is to be found?
You are free to believe what you want. I'm just not convinced of your case.
Jesus instructs all of us to seek the Truth. I urge you to keep seeking.
Maybe this is where we're hung up, Pegleg. You've been more than attentive and fair, and I appreciate that.
So, I'm going to intentionally overstate something, and I truly want you to notice this NEXT line before I overstate it.
I believe the book itself IS the Word of God and, therefore, the book is God. The words on the page ARE the presence of God, the substance of the mind of God....Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Therefore, whether you or I or anyone else interprets it correctly, or incorrectly, or middle correctly, is NOT even an issue at the most basic level. The words themselves are God's words.
Despite what they do with it, the book remains GOD'S VERY WORDS. In our world, in this day and age, there is nothing that begins to approach it in terms of authentic presence of God. (Jesus said, "These WORDS I speak to you, THEY are SPIRIT AND THEY ARE LIFE!")
Now do you understand why I say the WORD has priority OVER ANY human interpreters of the WORD? (Not asking if you agree....just if you understand. Think of Icons....you say they "contain" a "window" to the holy. The WORDS are the PRESENCE of the Holy.)